Mohamed Ali Ahmed Elmushraty, better known as ‘Lilu King’, has been stripped of his refugee status in Malta, Home Affairs and Security Minister Glenn Bedingfield has announced.Bedingfield revealed the development in a social media post, saying Elmushraty currently remains behind bars at the Corradino Correctional Facility while two criminal cases against him remain pending.“Elmushraty is being detained under arrest at Corradino under preventive arrest since two procedures are currently underway in relation to two criminal cases which are still pending,” Bedingfield said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)Elmushraty is facing charges in Malta in connection with separate cases, including allegations relating to grievous bodily harm and complicity in a sexual violence case.The Libyan national had sought international protection in Malta after leaving Libya amid conflict. Earlier this year, reports had already indicated that Maltese and Libyan authorities were discussing his possible return to Libya, with his lawyers opposing any deportation attempt on the grounds that he could face persecution there.Bedingfield said the removal of Elmushraty’s refugee status meant he no longer benefited from the protection which had allowed him to remain in Malta on that basis.“We are not giving humanitarian international protection to those who don’t deserve it,” the minister said.According to Bedingfield, Elmushraty will meanwhile remain in preventive custody unless a court decides otherwise.The development comes as criminal proceedings against Elmushraty remain ongoing, meaning the removal of his protection status and the cases before Malta’s courts are separate legal processes.What do you make of this?Video credits to @glenn.bedingfield•